Feb 02 Trump vows to repeal political limits on churches By Catherine Lucey, Associated Press Declaring that religious freedom is "under threat," President Donald Trump vowed Thursday to repeal a rarely enforced IRS rule that says pastors who endorse candidates from the pulpit risk losing their tax-exempt status. Continue reading
Dec 26 Q&A: Can teaching about religion reduce intolerance? By Vic Pasquantonio While the courts banned schools from preaching about religion decades ago, most school districts in the U.S. require students to learn about the world’s religions, a fact that most Americans don't know. Linda K. Wertheimer traveled across the country to… Continue reading
Nov 23 Column: What is behind the turkey pardoning ritual? By Tobin Miller Shearer, The Conversation The presidential pardoning of turkeys invites the question: What is the significance of such a public rite of forgiveness?… Continue reading
Nov 21 Pope Francis extends priests’ ability to forgive abortion By News Desk After the Holy Year of Mercy ended last weekend, Pope Francis on Monday extended the ability of Roman Catholic priests to absolve those who have had an abortion, while reiterating that it is still a sin. Continue reading
Nov 05 ‘Death with dignity’ measure in Colorado stirs controversy — and passion By Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News A state ballot measure would allow physicians to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to terminally ill adults who request aid in dying. Continue reading
Nov 01 Pope Francis says Catholic ban on female priests likely to last forever By Justin Scuiletti In a follow-up question, a reporter asked: “But forever, forever? Never, never?”… Continue reading
Oct 03 Watch 8:38 What you need to know about Tim Kaine and Mike Pence By PBS News Hour Sen. Tim Kaine and Gov. Mike Pence have radically different ideologies, but grew up under strikingly similar circumstances. What led them to the national stage? With the first vice presidential debate a day away, Judy Woodruff takes a look at… Continue watching
Aug 31 Watch 6:09 An author’s eulogy for ‘White Christian America’ By PBS News Hour The demographic makeup of America is undergoing a visible change, and with it, America’s culture -- dominated by white Christian culture -- and American power structures are shifting, too. That’s the premise of Robert Jones’ new book, “The End of… Continue watching
May 17 Watch 8:35 Six months in, new Episcopal church leader reflects on church challenges By PBS News Hour Last November, the Most Reverend Michael Curry became presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, one of the oldest Christian denominations in the U.S. Curry’s ascension comes at a time of crisis and change, and the church, like most mainline Protestant… Continue watching
Mar 23 Watch 6:15 Supreme Court hears birth control battle brought by religious nonprofits By PBS News Hour The Supreme Court heard its fourth challenge to the Affordable Care Act, this one from religious nonprofits demanding exemption from the requirement to provide insurance coverage for birth control, claiming the mandate violates federal laws protecting religious freedoms. Gwen Ifill… Continue watching